As African mines advance toward higher safety standards and respond to tightening regulations and rapid technological change, Booyco Electronics says the future of proximity detection systems (PDS) will be shaped by strong long-term industry collaboration.
Booyco Electronics CEO Anton Lourens stresses that aligned effort across the mining value chain is essential. “Effective PDS rollout only happens when technology suppliers, OEMs, mines and regulators work in step,” he says. “We have seen real progress but the industry must deepen these partnerships if we want sustainable long term success.”
Reflecting on nearly two decades of innovation, Lourens notes that Booyco Electronics has grown alongside the sector. “When we first introduced what were then called collision warning systems, the technology and regulatory landscape looked very different,” he says. “Our close work with OEMs and mines over the years has ensured that our solutions evolve with their real-world operational needs.”
A central pillar of PDS success, he explains, is structured change management. “Phased implementation works,” he says. “When operators, supervisors and management understand the system and buy into the process, you get safer more responsive environments and far fewer disruptions.”
The introduction of South Africa’s Level 9 vehicle intervention requirement has intensified the need for collaboration. “Level 9 has accelerated conversations across the industry,” Lourens explains. “But technology alone cannot overcome challenges around operator resistance, production concerns or fears of nuisance trip-outs. Those issues require engagement, communication and shared commitment.”
He emphasises that mines involving all key departments from the outset see the best outcomes. “When production, engineering, finance, HR and safety sit around the table from day one, implementation is smoother and acceptance is higher,” he says.
Risk-led planning, he adds, is non-negotiable. “A PDS can only protect people if the mine’s baseline risk assessment is current and aligned to its traffic management plan,” Lourens states. “Without that foundation, you cannot determine meaningful intervention zones or identify the highest risk equipment.”
Operational readiness has emerged as another critical success factor. “We often find that mines have the hardware on site but the people, processes and infrastructure aren’t ready,” he says. That misalignment leads to bypassing, delays and low acceptance. The operational readiness assessments help close that gap before deployment even begins.
Lourens says the shift toward sensor fusion will depend on even greater industry cooperation. “Mixed fleets need interconnected technologies,” he explains. “Standardised interfaces are a step forward, but genuine supplier-to-supplier collaboration is what will unlock full fleet-wide protection.”
He concludes with a clear message: “PDS touches everything – compliance, mine planning, equipment design and behaviour on the ground. No single stakeholder can deliver all of that alone. Partnerships remain the backbone of a future-ready Zero Harm mining environment.”
South Africa’s transition toward renewable energy is reshaping the national landscape. Across the country, cranes, graders and concrete mixers are hard at work on wind and solar farms that will supply the next generation of clean power. But beyond the visible turbines and solar panels lies the crucial groundwork that makes every project possible – the specialised civil engineering work that provides the platforms, roads and foundations for a sustainable future.
From building access roads and haul routes to pouring reinforced-concrete foundations for turbine towers, civil engineering contractors form the backbone of renewable energy construction. Their expertise ensures that every structure is stable, every site accessible and every cable securely routed. According to the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI), these activities fall squarely within the civil-engineering scope and that means companies performing this work are required by law to register with the Council.
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“Renewable energy projects depend on solid civil engineering fundamentals,” Natasha Ramsawhook , Legal Advisor at the BCCEI, explains. “Foundations, cable trenches, roads, drainage systems and substations are all civil works that fall within our regulated framework. The companies carrying out this work play a vital role in South Africa’s energy transition and it is essential that they operate within the country’s legal and ethical labour standards.”
Before a turbine can turn, civil contractors spend months preparing the terrain. Bulk earthworks, site clearance and compaction ensure stable ground conditions, topsoil must be stripped and stockpiled for rehabilitation, access roads are built to handle trucks carrying 80 plus metre long blades and heavy tower sections.
Once the earthworks are complete, deep concrete foundations are poured to anchor the turbines, while reinforced concrete pads are constructed for substations, transformers and maintenance facilities. Trenches are excavated for electrical and communication cables and storm-water drainage systems are installed to protect against flooding and erosion. Every one of these tasks is defined as civil engineering work and therefore falls under the BCCEI’s scope of regulation.
The BCCEI, established under South Africa’s Labour Relations Act, regulates employment conditions within the civil engineering industry through six collective agreements. These cover wages, working hours, benefits and dispute resolution processes. Registration with the BCCEI is not optional – it ensures that companies comply with national labour legislation and it safeguards both employers and employees through transparent standardised practices. Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, back-payments, reputational damage and even disqualification from public tenders.
Ramsawhook stresses that registration also brings tangible business benefits. It provides contractors with a Letter of Good Standing, confirming their compliance and improving eligibility for future projects. It also signals to developers and EPC contractors that a company operates ethically and professionally – a key consideration in a sector increasingly funded by international investors who demand strong governance and fair labour compliance.
“Compliance isn’t just an administrative exercise,” she says. “It is about building a resilient professional industry that protects workers, upholds standards and supports sustainable growth. When contractors register with the BCCEI, they are strengthening their own businesses and contributing to the stability of South Africa’s renewable energy rollout.”
As South Africa moves deeper into its just energy transition, civil engineering contractors are literally laying the foundations for a cleaner more resilient future. Their work enables the power lines, substations and roads that keep renewable-energy projects running – and through the BCCEI, the industry is ensuring that this progress rests on fair labour practices and sound governance.
“Our message to contractors is simple,” Ramsawhook concludes. “If your company is performing civil works on renewable energy projects, whether as a main contractor or a subcontractor, you are part of the civil engineering industry and must be registered.”
Chryso is setting a new benchmark in concrete waterproofing across Africa as the first and only supplier of a high performance liquid crystalline waterproofing admixture – Chryso® CWA Liquid 200. This cutting-edge technology is revolutionising how the industry approaches integral waterproofing, delivering long-term protection from within the concrete itself.
When added to cement, Chryso® CWA Liquid 200 chemically reacts with the cement paste to form a non-soluble crystalline structure. This process reduces pore and capillary size throughout the concrete matrix, permanently sealing the structure and preventing water ingress. As a result, the concrete is waterproofed from the inside out, eliminating the need for external membranes, joints or surface treatments.
Patrick Flannigan, Chryso GM Technical and Product Support Management Africa, explains that Chryso® CWA Liquid 200 represents a leap forward in integral waterproofing. “It is not just about preventing water penetration – it is about fundamentally improving the performance, durability and longevity of concrete infrastructure. From a safety, environmental and quality perspective, the benefits over traditional powder-based solutions are significant.”
Using advanced nanotechnology, the liquid admixture offers multiple performance enhancements. These include increased concrete strength and resistance to chloride and sulphate ingress as well as protection against carbonation, chemical attack and freeze-thaw damage. Its ability to self-heal micro-cracks and hairline cracks up to 0.5 mm ensures long-term resilience, even in the most demanding environments.
The product is suitable for a wide range of applications including basements, water tanks, reservoirs, dams, tunnels, wastewater and water treatment plants, swimming pools, marine structures and roads and bridges. Flannigan says that because it is added directly to the concrete mix, it avoids the need for costly and time-consuming surface preparation and is not constrained by weather conditions which is an important advantage for large scale or fast track construction projects.
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Another key benefit of Chryso® CWA Liquid 200 is its compatibility with all types of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), making it highly adaptable across different mix designs. It also complements Chryso’s broader range of admixture technologies, providing concrete producers with an integrated performance solution.
“Unlike powder waterproofing products that are manually added at batching plants, our liquid solution is accurately dosed through Chryso dispensing systems,” says Flannigan. “This means improved traceability, consistent quality and reduced health and safety risks associated with powder handling.”
The liquid format also improves concrete workability and can enhance hydration, reducing the need for other admixtures and helping optimise cost control. Importantly, Chryso® CWA Liquid 200 is non-toxic, contains no VOCs and is environmentally friendly – aligning with modern demands for greener construction methods.
“Chryso’s commitment is not only to develop high performance admixtures and construction chemicals but also to support our customers throughout the construction process,” Flannigan adds. “We offer full technical backup, ensuring each mix design is optimised for maximum waterproofing performance.”
With Chryso® CWA Liquid 200, the company is reaffirming its leadership in innovative admixture technology, delivering waterproofing and corrosion protection solutions that extend the life and performance of concrete while helping to meet evolving industry standards for sustainability, safety and efficiency.
At its well-equipped technical workshop in Kumasi, Sandvik Rock Processing recently completed a full refurbishment of critical rock breaking equipment for a major gold mining customer in Ghana.
The large range Sandvik BR3288i hydraulic breaker, mounted on the Sandvik BB8094R breaker boom, is positioned at the mine’s run-of-mine (ROM) grizzly, where it breaks large boulders after blasting to prevent blockages and streamline the crushing process.
“This project restored a vital asset that plays a central role in the mine’s primary crushing circuit,” Amos Fordjour, Senior Service Technician at Sandvik Rock Processing, says. “Our extensive rebuild has returned the machine to OEM performance standards, significantly improving the mine’s reliability and production continuity.”
The rock breaker had been operating for more than five years and was due for its scheduled refurbishment. Fordjour explains that the work began on site, where Sandvik Rock Processing dismantled the 11 tonne boom assembly using the mine’s cranes. The components were then transported to Sandvik Rock Processing’s Kumasi facilities, a journey of over three hours.
“Once in the workshop, our technicians stripped the units completely – checking for critical components such as pins, bushings, cylinder seals and mounting brackets that required replacement,” he says. “The boom was sandblasted and inspected for cracks, the hydraulic cylinders were rebuilt and pressure-tested and the hammer was fully refurbished.”
According to Haqq Abdul Rahman, Graduate Technician at Sandvik Rock Processing, maintaining a strong inventory of components and spares is key to speeding up refurbishment projects. He notes that many mines struggle with oversized material arriving at the ROM grizzly and temporary mobile breakers typically take far longer to process these rocks.
“It was important that we controlled the turnaround time on this project so the mine could put the equipment back to work as soon as possible,” Rahman says. “This particular unit breaks oversized rocks much faster than the smaller mobile units that the mine had to rely on while this one was being refurbished.”
The Sandvik BB8094R breaker boom, with an input power of 55 kW, offers a maximum reach of 12.7 m, a nominal horizontal reach of 9.8 m, a nominal vertical reach of 9 m and a 360° swing. The 2.3 tonne Sandvik BR3288i hydraulic breaker is built on an innovative operating principle that optimises stroke length, blow energy and Sandvik’s idle blow protector. This allows the breaker to be adjusted for different applications while improving hydraulic efficiency and safety.
Fordjour emphasises that quality assurance underpins every stage of the rebuild process at Kumasi.
“We follow strict operating procedures and standards in everything we do,” he says. “This includes using only genuine Sandvik parts which allows us to guarantee the quality of both the components and the workmanship.”
After the rebuild was completed, Sandvik Rock Processing returned to site to install and commission the breaker. The three week process required close coordination between Sandvik Rock Processing and the mine to manage crane access, electrical connections, equipment positioning and safety protocols.
“We work very closely with customers during removal, installation and commissioning,” Fordjour notes. “In this case, the mine provided the cranes and support equipment and we handled all the technical work; that collaboration is critical.”
Rahman explains that the refurbished boom and hydraulic breaker now deliver several operational benefits. Restored OEM clearances and structural integrity ensure smoother swing and boom movement, more efficient energy transfer and high twist capacity, all of which contribute to improved durability under high-impact conditions.
“For the mine, the biggest impact is uptime and production,” he says. “Without this breaker, their crushing circuit slows down considerably; now that it is back to full performance and production is consistent again.”
Fordjour adds that Sandvik Rock Processing’s support continues long after commissioning. The company conducts quarterly inspections to check pins, seals and overall structural condition and the service team remains available for call-outs whenever required.
Best known for its work in dry bulk materials handling, Weba Chute Systems has successfully applied its depth of expertise to resolve transfer point challenges in the wet plant of an iron ore mine in Sierra Leone.
According to Dewald Tintinger, Technical Director at Weba Chute Systems, the mine was experiencing chronic screening inefficiencies that were undermining overall plant performance. These issues were traced directly back to poor chute design.
“Material was not being fed optimally onto the centre of the screens, causing around 80% of the material to run to one side of the two screens at extremely high velocities,” Tintinger explains. “Under these poor screening conditions wet sluggish material flooded the conveyor belt, resulting in excessive spillage and frequent plant downtime for cleaning.”
As a result, only a fraction of the available screening area was being used effectively. The combination of bias loading and excessive material velocity further reduced separation efficiency. Tintinger notes that while the application involved wet material, the fundamental challenge was familiar.
“Whether chutes are designed for dry material or slurry, the core issue is understanding material flow behaviour,” he says. “Our scientific understanding of material flow, combined with years of practical experience, was critical in identifying a suitable solution. The presence of water, however, added complexity when predicting exact flow behaviour within the constraints of the existing transfer layout.”
To reduce uncertainty and refine the design concept, the Weba Chute Systems engineering team employed Discrete Element Modelling (DEM). This enabled a detailed assessment of screen loading profiles and material distribution, allowing the team to visualise impact points, velocities and flow patterns across the screen decks before finalising the chute geometry.
The final design incorporated several key engineering features aimed at delivering an even controlled feed at significantly lower velocities. One critical requirement was ensuring that both screens received the same mass flow. Due to the rotational dynamics of the mill feeding the circuit the discharge was naturally biased, resulting in a 60/40 split between the two screens.
To address this, Weba Chute Systems introduced a manually adjustable valve that allows operators to fine tune the split to an even 50/50. The valve also provides operational flexibility, enabling 100% of the feed to be diverted to either screen during maintenance, thereby improving plant uptime.
A second major innovation was the introduction of additional diverter gates and a flood box positioned above each screen. This configuration allows slurry and water to accumulate and then overflow evenly across the full width of the screen decks, rather than impacting in a narrow high-energy stream.
“This ensured not only even distribution across the screens but also a substantially lower discharge velocity,” Tintinger says. “The reduced velocity increases screening time which directly contributes to improved screening efficiency.”
Collaboration played a central role throughout the project. From the outset, Weba Chute Systems worked closely with the screen OEM, Sandvik Rock Processing, and the mine’s plant team to diagnose the problem and develop a coordinated solution.
“It was a detailed and constructive process with all three parties contributing experience and critical thinking,” Tintinger explains. “Each of us made targeted changes within our respective areas ensuring that the chute redesign, operating practices and screening configuration were aligned to the same performance objective.”
Another noteworthy aspect of the project was the customer’s requirement to fabricate key chute components locally in Sierra Leone to meet a tight schedule. Weba Chute Systems supported this approach by enabling on-site manufacturing in line with its design specifications while also providing quality control oversight, installation assistance and commissioning support.
“This hands-on approach reflects our philosophy of taking responsibility for outcomes not just designs,” Tintinger says. “A solution only truly succeeds once it has been implemented and proven under stable operating conditions.”
He adds that the project followed the company’s standard modus operandi, beginning with a physical site visit to the remote operation to observe conditions first-hand and to fully understand all factors influencing chute performance.
Pilot Crushtec is working towards building a strong network of European distributors as it consolidates its position as a world class specialist supplier of crushing and screening solutions.
According to Sales and Marketing Director Francois Marais, this drive follows the launch last year of the TwisterTrac VS350E Stage V which was specifically developed to comply with the European Union’s stringent Stage V emissions regulations. Significantly, the first Stage V unit was sold into the UK, underlining both the relevance of the machine to the European market and the opportunity for further expansion.
“The TwisterTrac VS350E is a well-proven range with over 100 units in operation globally,” Marais says. “We have now evolved that robust platform to make it accessible to markets where Stage V compliance is a requirement.”
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More than 70% of the installed TwisterTrac units are already operating outside South Africa, with a growing population in the UK and Europe in particular. This expanding footprint is now a key driver behind the company’s search for distribution partners who can provide local sales coverage, technical support and aftermarket service.
“With an established machine population in those territories, there are customers who can be serviced by local distributors,” he explains. “Potential distributors can also speak to existing users about the quality of the equipment and the level of support they already receive from us.”
The search for the most suitable distributors is under way, and Pilot Crushtec will use its presence at the UK’s Hillhead exhibition in June to continue engaging with potential candidates.
“We are specialist manufacturers of vertical shaft impact (VSI) crushers and compact modular plants,” Marais says. “Our strategy is to be exceptional in selected product areas and we are looking for distributors whose portfolios and market focus align with that approach.”
In practical terms, this means Pilot Crushtec is seeking distributors with solid technical expertise, proven service capability and a meaningful local or regional footprint.
“Ideally, we are looking for distributors who are active not only in mobile crushing and screening, but also in stationary and fixed operations,” he says. “Equally important are their reputation in the market, the strength of their support teams and their ability to support customers to our standards.”
Marais adds that the company’s approach is flexible and tailored to each market. In some countries, separate partners handle mobile and fixed equipment, while in others a single distributor covers both. Support and partnership remain central to Pilot Crushtec’s distribution strategy with the company playing an active role in backing its partners.
“We are very proactive in our partnerships,” he notes. “We regularly conduct remote training, join customer calls and support sales enquiries. We also provide technical guidance, advice and case studies, so our distributors know they are not on their own.”
Underground mining remains one of the toughest operating environments in the world, placing extreme demands on both personnel and equipment. Heat, dust, humidity and long operating hours all contribute to conditions that require robust purpose-built climate control solutions. For more than four decades, Booyco Engineering has led the field in specialised HVAC and climate control systems engineered specifically for underground mining vehicles.
With extensive experience across South Africa and global mining markets, Booyco Engineering designs and manufactures HVAC systems that ensure operator safety, equipment reliability and compliance with stringent mine health regulations. These solutions are purpose-engineered to withstand high dust loads, corrosive atmospheres, constant vibration, tight installation spaces and extreme thermal conditions.
Booyco Engineering’s underground HVAC units are available in a range of duty ratings to suit diverse vehicle categories including personnel carriers, utility vehicles, LHDs, rock drills, scalers and telescopic handlers. Systems typically deliver cooling capacities from 5.5 kW up to 12 kW in +46°C ambients, depending on the application, while maintaining positive cab pressure and clean-air delivery through specialised cyclonic dust scavenging filtration and robust airflow designs.
A recent international application highlights the durability and reliability of Booyco Engineering’s technology. In a large underground mining operation in India, a low profile 30 man personnel carrier equipped with a Booyco climate control system operates up to 20 hours per day in high heat, high humidity conditions.
Running continuously at this decline shaft operation, the personnel carrier transports crews to and from the working areas and also serves as an underground recuperation chamber, allowing personnel to recover from severe ambient temperatures. The HVAC system maintains safe air quality and comfortable temperatures despite the extreme duty cycle.
Central to the performance of Booyco Engineering’s underground systems is the incorporation of dual system designs and purpose engineered filtration. Units are equipped with high efficiency Sy-Klone filtration systems that remove airborne dust and contaminants before reaching the operator’s breathing zone. This ensures the quality of air inside the cab remains within mandated occupational exposure limits – a critical requirement in hot, dusty and gas-laden environments.
The rugged construction of Booyco Engineering’s HVAC units includes corrosion-protected materials, reinforced housings, sealed electrical components and vibration-resistant mounting systems. Intelligent control interfaces allow operators to adjust airflow and temperature to maintain safe and productive conditions. In addition, the systems are designed for ease of maintenance with accessible components and service intervals suited to intensive underground schedules.
“With the harsh realities of underground mining, climate control is far more than a comfort feature – it is a vital part of occupational health compliance and operational continuity,” Brenton Spies, Managing Director of Booyco Engineering, says. “Our HVAC and climate control systems are engineered to keep operators safe and equipment running, no matter how demanding the conditions.”
Across Africa, India and other global mining regions, Booyco Engineering continues to set the benchmark in purpose-designed underground HVAC and climate control technology. From personnel carriers to heavy utility machines, its solutions ensure mines can maintain safe working environments while improving productivity and reducing equipment downtime.
South Africa is entering a new era of urban growth. Already a predominantly urban country, it is estimated that by 2035 more than 70% of the population will live in towns and cities. This rapid shift presents both opportunities and challenges – opportunities to unlock economic growth and improve quality of life and challenges around housing demand, transport networks, basic services and environmental sustainability.
This is according to Amit Dawneerangen, AfriSam Construction Materials Executive – Sales & Product Technical, who says that for South Africa’s construction sector, this means designing and delivering infrastructure that can handle greater density, withstand climate pressures and reduce environmental impacts.
At the heart of this transformation lies the choice of construction materials. Cement, concrete and aggregates are not just commodities; they are the building blocks of urban life. And in South Africa, AfriSam has emerged as the leader in providing materials that balance quality, durability and sustainability.
Urbanisation’s evolving demands
Urbanisation in South Africa is no longer simply about the expansion of cities into outlying areas. Increasingly, the focus is on densification, making better use of existing urban footprints through renewal, infill and multi-storey development. This shift creates new demands for construction materials.
Mid-rise residential blocks, affordable housing developments and rental stock require concrete that is consistent, reliable and cost effective. Transport corridors such as bridges, bus rapid transit systems and interchanges call for high performance mixes that can endure decades of service under heavy loads. Municipal services – from schools and clinics to water and wastewater treatment plants – must be delivered on time, often within constrained urban sites where logistics and supply certainty are critical.
Cities also face growing environmental stresses. Flooding, storm surges and rising heat are already reshaping infrastructure priorities. Urban resilience now depends on engineered solutions such as permeable pavements to manage stormwater, durable culverts and channels to reduce flood risk and concrete road surfaces designed to handle high temperatures.
Decarbonising the built environment
Globally, there is growing recognition that construction materials – especially cement and concrete – hold the key to reducing embodied carbon in infrastructure. For South Africa, this is particularly relevant, as the country has set ambitious climate targets while facing ongoing energy and water constraints.
AfriSam has been a pioneer in low carbon cement technology, producing blended cements that incorporate supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash and slag. These substitutes reduce the clinker content in cement, directly lowering CO₂ emissions without compromising strength. AfriSam has also embraced performance-based concrete designs, where specifications focus on outcomes like strength and durability rather than rigid cement content. This approach allows for innovation, cost optimisation and carbon reduction in tandem.
“Urban growth and decarbonisation are not competing agendas – they are two sides of the same challenge,” Amit Dawneerangen, Construction Materials Executive: Sales & Product Technical at AfriSam, says. “Our blended cements and engineered concretes are designed to deliver the performance cities need with a measurably lower carbon footprint.”
From affordable housing to wastewater infrastructure, AfriSam’s products demonstrate that sustainable options can also be practical and cost effective. Permeable concretes are being trialled to reduce stormwater run-off in dense precincts, while high durability mixes extend the service life of bridges and marine infrastructure. Each innovation brings South Africa closer to cities that are not only larger, but smarter and more sustainable.
Circularity and resource efficiency
Another crucial component of future urbanisation is circularity. With demand for materials rising, the sector cannot rely indefinitely on virgin resources. AfriSam is leading efforts to recycle returned concrete waste into aggregates for selected applications, reducing landfill pressure and preserving natural stone reserves.
At the quarry and plant level, AfriSam continues to optimise operations to extract more usable product per tonne of raw material. Closed-loop water management systems reduce consumption and safeguard scarce water supplies, while dust control technologies protect surrounding communities and ecosystems.
These efforts show that sustainability is not an add-on but a central requirement for long term urban growth. “The future city will not be built at the expense of the environment. It must balance demand with responsibility and that is what AfriSam is striving to achieve,” Dawneerangen emphasises.
Reliability as a sustainability factor
Urban projects are uniquely complex. Construction in congested spaces, under tight deadlines and with limited access, demands absolute reliability from suppliers. In this context, AfriSam’s national footprint of plants and quarries becomes a sustainability lever in itself.
Every delayed delivery or rejected batch adds wasted fuel, idle machinery time and disrupted schedules. By leveraging digital platforms, AfriSam allows contractors to place orders online, track deliveries in real time and receive automated notifications.
Highly skilled technical teams supported by AfriSam’s Centre of Product Excellence and its SANAS-accredited laboratories underpin the high level of service provided to support contractors by tailoring mixes to specific site conditions.
Further, night time pours and staged logistics reduce disruption in high density areas, ensuring projects proceed smoothly and with minimal impact on surrounding communities.
Reliability is not just about convenience; it is about efficiency and reduced waste across the project lifecycle. For cities with constrained budgets, this translates directly into savings and better value.
Building for resilience and longevity
As municipalities face tightening budgets, long term durability has become more important than ever. AfriSam’s technical experts work closely with engineers to design concretes that resist chloride ingress, sulphate attack and carbonation – factors that typically shorten the lifespan of assets. By mitigating these risks, AfriSam helps ensure that bridges, pavements, culverts and treatment plants last longer, require less maintenance and deliver greater whole-life value.
In road infrastructure, AfriSam continues to refine mixes that resist rutting under heavy axle loads and endure repeated heat cycles. For marine and wastewater facilities, specially formulated binder systems improve resistance to aggressive environments. In emerging technologies, the company is exploring concrete mixes suitable for 3D printing and precast manufacturing, accelerating the delivery of housing and municipal infrastructure with consistent quality.
Inclusive growth and skills development
Urbanisation is also a chance to build a more inclusive construction economy. Through its community investment initiatives, AfriSam invests in the growth of small and medium-sized contractors, providing training in material use, batching discipline and quality control.
By enabling smaller players and expanding skills, AfriSam ensures that urbanisation benefits are more widely shared. This inclusivity is critical in a country where unemployment and inequality remain pressing challenges.
Aligning with policy and planning
The coming decade will shape South Africa’s cities for generations. The challenge is clear – the need to deliver more housing and infrastructure at greater speed, with fewer resources and lower carbon intensity. AfriSam’s strategy rests on three interlinked pillars – advancing low carbon material innovation, ensuring operational excellence and supply reliability and fostering partnerships that build skills and inclusivity.
“Urbanisation is not a future risk, it is today’s reality,” Dawneerangen says. “By combining reliable logistics, advanced materials and transparent performance data, AfriSam is helping South Africa’s cities grow in ways that are economically sound, socially inclusive and environmentally responsible.”
As the demands of urbanisation accelerate, one thing is certain – the future of South Africa’s cities will quite literally be built on AfriSam’s foundations.
Lost production is a major direct cost that quarries and mines contend with when a conveyor system goes down. Some of the most common conveyor issues include belt misalignment, material carryback and rip events, amongst others. Drawing on decades of field experience, Tru-Trac’s Douglas van der Westhuizen and Guy Fitt outline some of the best-practice maintenance approaches to keeping conveyors at peak performance.
One of the most common causes of unscheduled downtime on conveyor systems is belt misalignment which often results in spillage, belt edge damage, damage to the structure, increased power consumption and increased labour costs. According to Guy Fitt, National Sales Manager at Tru-Trac, a specialist provider of conveyor components for the global mining and bulk material handling industries, misaligned belts will ultimately result in lost production, increased operating costs and safety hazards.
Douglas van der Westhuizen, Technical Sales Representative at Tru-Trac, says misaligned belts can also result in environmental issues by increasing material spillage and dust generation which can contaminate nearby ecosystems and water sources, lead to regulatory non-compliance and negatively affect the health of both workers and nearby communities.
Apart from belt misalignment, carryback is another common enemy in conveyor systems. Carryback directly reduces conveyor productivity by creating unscheduled downtime for cleanup, degrading components such as rollers and pulleys and causing material loss and leading to belt tracking issues that necessitate further maintenance. Carryback represents loss of product, which, over time, can add up to significant financial costs, especially in systems handling large volumes,” says Fitt.
Commenting on some of the best-practice maintenance approaches to keeping conveyors at peak performance, Fitt says that continuous inspection is one of the principal approaches to making sure that conveyor systems function optimally. With this approach, minor issues are identified early on before they escalate into major problems that lead to unexpected breakdowns. This minimises unplanned interruptions ensuring that material transport is uninterrupted and production schedules are maintained.
“Constant condition monitoring of conveyor components is one of the best practices in always ensuring correct belt tracking. It is essential to be fully aware of the basic characteristics of the different belt tracking components and for these to be employed correctly,” Van der Westhuizen says, adding that all the structural conveyor components such as pulleys, idlers, take-ups and the supporting structure should always be properly aligned at all times.
“In fact, these should be the principal areas of concern whenever trying to identify belt tracking problems. All pulleys, snub rollers, troughing and return idlers must be square with the frame parallel to each other, and also be level,” Van der Westhuizen concludes.
Navigating mining’s fast changing sustainability landscape begins with a full understanding of the entire value chain, says SLR Consulting’s Angus Bracken, Mining Sector Lead for Africa and the Middle East. Whether a project is at conceptual scoping, operational execution or preparing for closure, he argues that consultants deliver the greatest value when they can see, interpret and advise on every stage of the process.
Central to SLR Consulting’s mining advisory model is its integrated structure of eight Communities of Practice aligned to the mining cycle. These span strategic advisory, resource development, environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate change, water management, tailings and mine closure. This multidisciplinary approach allows the company to bring the right blend of expertise to each project.
“Clients don’t want advisers who only see one slice of the project,” Bracken says. “They want teams who understand the whole value chain – from strategy and financing to environmental performance and community engagement – and who can walk with them from the earliest concept right through to closure.”
He notes that full cycle visibility strengthens technical decision-making and supports the collaborative relationships that mining projects depend on. “Meaningful partnership is only possible when you understand what each stakeholder needs, including operators, investors, regulators, lenders and communities,” he continues. “That requires seeing the entire landscape, not just your own discipline.”
SLR Consulting has expanded rapidly in recent years. The company now employs 4,500 people across 135 offices in 28 countries, with a growing presence across key African markets including Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Namibia and South Africa.
To reinforce integration across its network, the business recently combined Africa, the Middle East and Europe into a single ‘super-region’ to promote seamless collaboration and technical exchange. Bracken highlights that investors in the Middle East are increasingly focusing on African mining opportunities, making the company’s office in the United Arab Emirates strategically important.
“Our model prizes local understanding paired with deep global expertise,” he explains. “We want the right team – local and global – around the table for every project; that is how we bring depth, context and perspective.”
Dieter Rodewald, SLR Consulting’s International Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Lead for Africa and the Middle East, stresses that building a mining project that is financially viable, operationally robust and socially responsible requires early and continuous alignment among all stakeholders.
“This is where SLR Consulting positions itself not just as a technical consultant, but as a strategic partner,” he says. “People often think environmental and social assessments are just compliance exercises. However, our work starts much earlier, helping clients navigate ESG imperatives from day one so that sustainability becomes embedded in decision-making rather than added as an afterthought.”
Rodewald notes that early partnership is increasingly vital as mining jurisdictions across Africa tighten and modernise their regulatory frameworks. At the same time, international financiers are imposing more rigorous ESG standards for funding approvals.
“If a client wants access to capital, they need to meet global good practice, not just national regulations,” he explains. “Financial institutions want assurance that the full range of project risks are understood and managed from the start.”
Many mining projects also face legacy issues that require careful handling. Rodewald recalls a case where SLR Consulting supported a client attempting to revive a project burdened by socio-political challenges inherited from previous owners. The new project team urgently need to reach financial close, finalise engineering designs and complete ESG baselines – but community mistrust threaten progress.
“We had to work with the client to take a step back and help them rebuild trust,” he says. “The solution was a grassroots engagement strategy that reset expectations and re-established transparent communication. Over just a few months, we saw marked improvement in community confidence.”
This experience underscores a critical lesson – social licence cannot be rushed and project timelines must account for community realities.
Looking ahead, Bracken notes that technology is opening powerful new avenues for mining in Africa – but only if the right partners are brought in early. He points to renewable energy integration as an area where early engagement allows independent power producers and mining operations to work together to reduce carbon footprints and secure long-term power supply.
“Digital innovation and artificial intelligence can transform monitoring and planning, through digital twins, predictive analytics and hyperspectral imagery, for example,” he adds. “Remote sensing and advanced satellite data can now support improvements in everything from exploration to tailings monitoring and biodiversity assessment.”
For both Bracken and Rodewald, the message is consistent – sustainability in mining requires strategic partnership, whole-of-value-chain insight and early engagement across disciplines. With this approach, mining projects can achieve more resilient operations, stronger ESG performance and deeper trust with the stakeholders who ultimately shape their success.
